Stargazing tourists in the Australian Outback witness the final moments of an Ariane Rocket. They follow its trajectory and find a set of osmium-coated marbles among the wreckage. They share the spoils and go their various ways, pleased with their souvenirs and unaware that other eyes far away have also noted the incident with interest. A thousand miles to the west, CIA agents working out of Alice Springs are already mounting a covert operation to recover the marbles. Also on their trail is Kelly MacDonald, an Australian forensic pathologist and Steve Moss, a battle-weary SAS soldier. Because this isn't the first time something has crashed out of the sky containing unexpected traces of the osmium, the densest element known to man. The recent, forced re-entry of an American manned satellite also displayed traces of osmium...mingled with alien DNA.
About the Author: Ian Bradley was born in Bath, England. In 1965, while still technically a minor, he emigrated on his own to Australia. He spent the next ten years supporting himself as a professional gambler. In 1975 he took up writing and producing for Television. His first production was Prisoner; Cell Block H, a long-running success not only in Australia but also in the U.S. and the U.K. He has been a screenwriter ever since. His credits include the multiple award-winners The Great Bookie Robbery and Embassy. He was Head of Production for Kerry Packer, C.E.O. of Crawford Productions, and Vice President of Drama for Grundy Worldwide. Since his so-called retirement Ian has returned to his first love; the telling of stories. His first book Big Fish to Rubber Ducky is a humorous memoir of family holidays described by one critic as "a light-hearted and engaging read... A horse with a windy vagina, a three-year-old with a Strepsil addiction and a toe-biting possum are just everyday events for this close bunch of friends." Ian's dry and slightly whacky sense of humour permeates The Osmium Marbles too, despite the fact that in this book he touches on the rather more serious subjects of climate change, environmental vandalism, political paranoia and xenophobia. Ian is the husband of actress, writer, editor, and cake maker, Anne Lucas; the father of screenwriter, Kate Bradley and video producer/director, Lucas Bradley; and the grandfather of Charlotte Rose (Lottie) Bradley. He lives in Sydney with Anne, several kookaburras, and a blue-tongued lizard named Adolf.